Message from John Dracup, Beef & Lamb Sector Chair, Red Tractor
Following our recent Beef & Lamb Sector Board meeting, I would like to update you on the key discussions and what they mean for you.
But before doing so, we would like to extend our sincere condolences to Board member Phil Stocker on the recent loss of his wife. Our thoughts are very much with him at this difficult time.
We would also like to congratulate Phil on being awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours. This is a well‑deserved recognition of his long‑standing contribution to the sheep sector and to British agriculture more broadly. Phil has been a strong and consistent voice for farmers over many years, and his commitment to the industry, particularly in representing the interests of sheep producers, is widely recognised. I know many of you will have benefited from his efforts on behalf of the sector, and I am sure you will join me in both offering your condolences and congratulating him on this achievement.
The Board were pleased to welcome Red Tractor Chair, Alistair Mackintosh, and new CEO, Paul McLaughlin, to the meeting. Their attendance provided a valuable opportunity for open discussion on the wider direction of travel for Red Tractor. There was a clear emphasis on sector autonomy and the strength of sector board-led decision making, with reassurance that Red Tractor’s role is to support the sector, not dictate it.
Paul also shared his early priorities as CEO, with a strong focus on engaging directly with farmers, processors and retailers. He set out a clear ambition for Red Tractor to be trusted by farmers, chosen by markets and understood by consumers, reinforcing that standards must remain industry-defined, with Boards and TACs at the heart of decision making.
Standards Review – where we are now
The main focus of the meeting was the standards review. After a significant amount of work involving farmers, industry representatives and technical experts, I am pleased to say that the Board has now approved a set of proposed changes to the standards.
This has been a detailed and collaborative process, led by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), with input from across the supply chain. Every standard has been reviewed line by line, with a clear focus on ensuring it remains relevant, justified and fit for purpose. The aim throughout has been to make sure the standards continue to reflect modern farming practice and are shaped by those working in the industry.
What this means in practice
In practical terms, the standards have been streamlined. This includes a significant reduction in audit points, and clearer structure across the standards, making them easier to navigate and apply in practice.
Importantly, this is not about asking you to do more, or less, but about improving how requirements are presented and assessed. The work has focused on removing duplication, improving clarity and ensuring standards are proportionate to risk.
The overall aim has been to develop a set of standards that work better on farm, reflect day‑to‑day realities, reduce unnecessary complexity and rebuild trust with farmers
At the same time, the Board is clear that we must continue to uphold the integrity and robustness of Red Tractor, ensuring standards still deliver confidence for the supply chain and consumers.
We are also exploring how we could move towards a more proportionate approach to assurance. This would mean recognising good compliance while allowing assessments to be more targeted on key areas such as animal welfare and medicines, rather than covering everything in the same way for every farm.
Consultation – the opportunity to have your say
The next step in the process is consultation. When this opens later in the year, you will have the opportunity to:
- look through the proposed changes in detail
- provide feedback on what works and what does not
- highlight anything that does not reflect real farm practice
- suggest where further improvements can be made
This is an important stage and part of our commitment to making the process as open and industry‑led as possible. As the consultation launches, you may also see activity from other industry organisations as we work together to ensure farmers have every opportunity to contribute and engage.
We recognise from your feedback that we need to continue improving how we communicate, listen and act. This consultation is an important part of that process and your opportunity to influence the outcome and ensure the standards work in practice for you. I strongly encourage you to take part. This is not simply a formality; your feedback will directly shape what the final set of standards look like.
Farmer sentiment
We reviewed the latest farmer sentiment and Trust in Food Index research. Encouragingly, farmer sentiment towards Red Tractor is improving and consumer trust in UK food remains very high, with assurance playing a key role.
Looking ahead
As part of the review, the Board has also started looking at what comes next, making sure the standards continue to evolve in a practical and farmer focused way. One area discussed was lifetime assurance – an industry driven ambition for the future.
However, it’s important to be clear that this is not something being introduced now, and it is not something that can be delivered in isolation. The Board’s view is that any move in this direction can only happen once the right government framework is in place, particularly around traceability. Any future development in this area must be led by the industry and work in practice for farmers.
Finally, I want to give thanks to everyone who has contributed to the standards review so far. This has genuinely been an industry led process, with a huge amount of time, effort and expertise invested to get to this point.
We will be in touch again soon with further details on how to take part in the consultation and have your say.
Kind regards,
John Dracup
Chair, Beef & Lamb Board
Beef & Lamb Board members:
John Dracup – Chair
- David Morgan – NFU
- Will Jackson – AHDB
- Alice Liddle – BRC/Food Service
- Alistair Brown – Livestock Auctioneers Association
- Phil Stocker – National Sheep Association
- Phil Hambling – British Meat Processors Association
- Henry Blain – Multiple Retailer
- Tom Atkins – Multiple Retailer
- Jude Capper – TAC Chair
- Navaratnam Partheeban – British Cattle Veterinary Association
- Sarah Haire – Dawn Meats (BMPA Representative)
- Ben Harman – National Beef Association